¬†Following Monday's meeting of the Bilateral Permanent Working Commission between the Holy See and the State of Israel ≠ the Vatican has issued a statement saying that important progress had been made. The Holy See delegation was led by Mgr Pietro Parolin, under-secretary for Relations with States, while the Israeli delegation was headed by Aaron Abramovich, director general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The English language statement reads: "The talks took place in an atmosphere of great cordiality, mutual understanding and good will, and produced important progress and hope for yet further advances in the coming months. The next meeting of the plenary will take place in the first half of December this year, in Israel, and in the meantime the commission will continue upon its task at the 'working level'." Source: VIS